The contract, which marks the first time the Kiss trains will operate in Germany, was signed by Mr Jure Mikolčić, CEO of Stadler Germany, and Mr Torsten Reh, head of DB Regio North, on June 5.
The four-car double-deck trains, which comprise two powered cars and two central trailer cars, can transport up to 880 passengers. Each double-deck coach has 405 seats, including 38 in first class in the upper area of the vehicles with a 2+1 seating arrangement.
All vehicles have Wi-Fi, power sockets and CCTV, along with a passenger information system and electronic reservation system.
The lower deck has multi-purpose areas for transporting wheelchairs, prams or up to 36 bicycles, as well as wheelchair-accessible toilets. The trains have step-free access, and are optimised to a platform height of 76cm. There are eight sets of doors the 106m-long vehicle.
The four driven bogies provide a top speed of 160km/h. Up to three trains can be coupled together to allow up to 2640 passengers to be transported per service.
The trains will be retrofitted with Stadler’s new Guardia train control system when the fixed link across the Fehmarnbelt is completed.
Testing of the new vehicles will be completed by June 2022 to enable them to enter service with the start of the new timetable in December 2022.
